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I don’t know about you, but when I look back over certain moments in my life and ministry, there are times I wish I had a bit more wisdom. The beautiful thing about wisdom is that God’s Word tells us it is both available to us and abundantly given.
Proverbs, primarily written by Solomon, is full of wisdom that can be applied to every part of our lives. Even though each chapter has godly principles that can help us, I want to look at the first three verses of Proverbs 16.
God is in control
“The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord” (Proverbs 16:1).
I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in September 2007 and preached my first sermon that December. My job as an airman had absolutely nothing to do with ministry. There was no doubt in my mind God had called me to preach, so I felt the job I should have been working had to be connected to the calling. When the opportunity arose, I applied to become a chaplain assistant. It all made sense—I could work for God and complete my active duty commitment. God was, without a doubt, going to open that door for me.
He didn’t.
I was devastated. In my heart, that was what was best. However, it was not what God wanted. I learned that if we truly want God to be in control over our lives, we have to be as content with the doors He opens as the ones He closes.
"We need God if we are to lead lives that reflect His glory and lead His church with grace."
Conviction without correction leads to corruption
“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit” (Proverbs 16:2).
Too often we have seen men who for most of their lives were held in high regard as spiritual leaders but did not end well. At some point, the conviction from the Holy Spirit is consistently ignored and what is wrong seemingly becomes right. When men of God know better but do not do better, destruction follows.
In 1 Samuel 15, God is very specific about how King Saul should destroy the Amalekites. Yet, Saul chooses to keep some of what God commanded to kill. Why? Because he desired what God commanded him to destroy. The worst part is Saul attempts to lie to himself and Samuel about his disobedience. He claims in v.13, “I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” To which Samuel replies, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” In other words, your sin is too loud to hide.
Conviction without correction leads to corruption. I pray that when our sin nature rears its ugly head, we heed the voice of God and obey His command.
When you are committed, He is the catalyst
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3).
We need God if we are to lead lives that reflect His glory and lead His church with grace. Moses knew this all too well. He told God in Exodus 33:15, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.” What good is a plan without His presence?
It’s not just about achieving your desired outcome. It’s about input. This does not mean if you give your plans to God everything you want will happen. On the other hand, it does mean that if you give your work to Him, God will align your work with His will. This allows us to work and trust God with the results.
Wisdom is available. Let us not waste what God gives freely.
